Freezing film

[martin henson]

Any tips, advice, drawbacks, on keeping film in a deep freezer, how lond will it last witout adverse effects

 

[Ian Grant]

Ilford don't recommend freezing film (or paper) but realise it's done. They suggest storage in a cool place.

If you do freeze film use sealed bags for sheet film, when unfreezinig it should be done slowly - place in a fridge first then later a col place. On a factory tour we were told that many issues that Ilford deal with are when film's been allowed to warm up too quickly after freezing, there's some moisture present in emulsions and with sudden temperature changes this can cause problems.

Most films will last a decade or longer with cool storage, deep freezing may help them last longer but natural background radiation damages faster films ultimate regardless of freezing, slow emulsions ar more resistant.

When I lived in Turkey I just stored my HP5 at ground level in a drawer max temp was about 23ºC in the Summer, even when over 40ºC air temperature, I had some HP5 film 10+ yeras old and the last sheets were as good as the new HP5 I bought.

Ian

 

[Alan9940]

I have always kept film and paper in the freezer and I'm not particularly careful about it. I will, generally, put sheet film boxes and rolls/35mm into freezer bags, but other times I simply toss the box into a basket. When I want to use it, I remove from the freezer and let it warm in my darkroom sink. I've never had any issues, that I'm aware of, working this way.

I guess storing film in a "cool place" is relative to where one lives. In the summer here, my indoor ambient temps reach 28C with outdoor temps hitting 46 - 49C! I don't feel comfortable leaving expensive sheet film in a drawer.

I agree, though, that fast films will change even if freezer stored.